A PART of Weston town centre has been named and shamed as one of the worst areas of England for crime and violence.

St James Street and the surrounding area, which is popular with late-night drinkers, has been named inside the top-30 ‘list of shame’ after 70 incidents were recorded by Avon and Somerset Constabulary in November.

The data published by www.ukcrimestats.com revealed that 21 of the incidents involved violence and antisocial behaviour.

Inspector Liz Hughes, who is based in Weston, said the figures should not put people off the town centre and added she did not want people to think the area was unsafe.

She said: “Most of our night-time economy is around Regent Street, St James Street and Beach Road and that sort of area.

“But I don’t want it to appear that it’s the worst area in the world.

“Generally we have a peak in the summer and then it goes quiet again and we have a peak in November and December time during the Christmas party season.”

Insp Hughes said Avon and Somerset Constabulary is making sure police have a bigger street presence on Friday and Saturday nights when the town is at its busiest.

And she added there had been a slight drop in the number of incidents recorded during December.

In August last year the Mercury revealed the region had more reported crimes in it than any other in Avon and Somerset and nearly 90 per cent of readers called for a greater police presence on the street.

But the latest figures now give that unwanted tag to The Horsefair in Bristol which had more than 100 incidents in one month.

The data revealed Surrey Street in Portsmouth to be the worst crime spot in the country after 138 incidents were logged in November.